The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-01
HOW TO HELP THE POOR.

We think it has been demonstrated by
long experience, and to the satisfaction
of all who have had much to do with
charitable work, that indiscriminate
aims giving is really harmful rather
than helpful. To feed able bodied
paupers when work is to be had, is not
only very poor political economy, but a
very poor article of morality as well.
That there may be times when in some
peculiar stress of circumstances it is
duty to feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, and warm their wretched homes
without too much investigation, may be
true. Far be it from me to withhold
a friendly hand from rescuing the dis
tressed, at any time or season. But
this is not the true and wise way of
aiding the suffering as rule. This is
simply the easiest way for the impul-
sively generous. How much better the
plan of the associated charities when
faithfully and intelligently carried out.
Let the city be divided into districts,
and the districts into very small neigh
borhoods. Then let all willing work
ers be enrolled, who will visit in a
friendly way two or three families.
They are not to go like Mrs. Pardiggle,
accompanied by six hopeful children,
bearing tracts, but they are in some I'M
obtrusive way to get acquainted with
the families, and become their friends,
with all that that implies. During a
visit to Boston, we were told of one gen.
tleman who thus undertook the care of
one family, and his experience will illus
trate the workings of the new charity.
He was a man very generous of his
money, but not disposed to devote much
time to other peoples affairs. 1t was,
perhaps, owing to these characteristics,
that Edward Everett Hale, who had
enlisted the mans sympathies in the
work, was moved to suggest to the wife,
that when the husband made his first
visit to the family, she should take his
pocket book away from him. She did
40. and the result was that the man
rushed home after brief call, exclaim-
ing. "Wife, what on earth did you take
nv pocket book away for? Why, wo-
man. these people are starving, and |
not a cent to give them. l must go
hack this minute, get ready everything
YOU can spare for me to take along"
Rut the wiser wife said, mo, these
people are not starving, although they
need help. Sit down a little while and
LEFT us think the matter over" And
thew did so, then visited the family to-
oetber. carrying nothing hut friend
ship. They became acquainted with
the different members of the household,
their needs and their capabilities, and
began in systematic way to help them.
II was found, as it will usually be found,
that every member of the family could
ba mt to some better use than to sub
sist on charity. Work was found for
the father, at low wages, but steady,
and not requiring any particular skill.
One of the boys could be put to trade,
and. of course, this put our friend to a
great deal of trouble, but he went at it
Faithfully, and after little time found
a place.
One of the girls could be taken into
their own family as an under-servant,
and this was a very great care to the
wife, who would much rather have
given her a generous sum of money, but
she put patience and love iuto the work,
and was fully repaid in time for all her
In one way or another all |